George Bauer, who ranks as one of the successful farmers of Macoupin
county and is now serving as a member of the board of county
supervisors, is a native of Western Mound township. He was born
September 9, 1863, a son of Ludwick and Mary (Weber) Bauer, the former
of whom was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, September 16, 1818. The
father was married in the old country and came with his family to the
United States after three of his children were born. He arrived in
Macoupin county in the pioneer days and located in Western Mound
township, purchasing thirty acres of brush land which he improved and
developed into a productive farm. As the years passed he acquired more
land and became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres in this
county. Ele was a self-made man and won his way to a prominent place in
the community by indefatigable perseverance and industry. Religiously he
was identified with the Lutheran church and politically he affiliated
with the democratic party. He died February 22, 1896, being then in his
seventy-eighth year. The mother of our subject was born in Germany,
August 6, 1821. She died in 1877, at the age of about fifty-six years,
and is buried beside her husband at Asbury chapel. In their family were
seven children: Leonard, who is now engaged in farming in the
southwestern part of Missouri; Elizabeth, the wife of Robert Adams, of
Greenfield, Illinois; Jacob, a farmer of Western Mound township; Lewis
W., also of Western Mound township; Philip, deceased; Mary, who married
A. J. Smith, of St. Louis, Missouri; and George, of this review.
Mr. Bauer, whose name introduces this sketch, received his early
education in the district schools of Western Mound township and later
carried his studies further at Shurtliff College. He assisted his father
upon the home farm until twenty-one years of age and then took charge of
the place which he cultivated to good advantage for six years. At the
end of the time named he purchased two hundred and sixty acres on
sections 10 and 15 of Western Mound township, upon which he has made all
the improvements. The appearance of his farm indicates that he
understands his business thoroughly and is one of the highly successful
farmers of this section. He pays special attention to feeding live stock
for the markets at St. Louis and Chicago and is one of the reliable
shippers from the township. In addition to his farming interests he is a
stockholder in the First National Bank at Greenfield.
On the 9th
of February, 1888, Mr. Bauer was married to Miss Bridget Reddington, who
was born in Western Mound township July 4, 1863, a daughter of John and
Bridget (Conners) Reddington. The father was born in County Galway,
Ireland, February 2, 1831, and the mother in County Tipperary, November
12, 1843. The father died March 14, 1903, and the mother was called away
February 9, 1909. They were among the settlers of Western Mound township
and gained many friends by their genial social qualities. Mr. and Mrs.
Bauer are the parents of seven children, namely: Maurice M., who was
born September 6, 1889; Amelia B., born December 14, 1890; M. Loretta,
born March 6, 1893; Florence, born March 9, 1895; Mabel, born November
17, 1899; Clara, born October 19, 1901; and Veronica P., born December
21, 1903.
Mr. Bauer ascribes his success in life very largely to
the fact that ever since his marriage, he has conducted his business on
a cash basis. He and his wife agreed never to contract any financial
obligations, a resolution to which they have closely adhered. He
believes that the habit of asking for credit is detrimental to the
progress of any man and that a large proportion of the ills of humanity
would vanish if the credit system were entirely eliminated. There are
many persons who entirely agree with him in this belief. Politically he
supports the democratic party. He has served for two terms as county
supervisor, having proved an honest and efficient public servant, and is
still holding the office, this being the only public position he has
ever occupied. He and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic
church and fraternally he is identified with the camp of Modern Woodmen
of America at Hagaman.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 283-284.
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